National Science Foundation

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The Maui/MALT Program Probing the Atmosphere to
the Edge of Space
National Science Foundation Air Force Office of
Scientific Research
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Airglow Meteoric Metal Layers
Ozone Layer
Middle upper atmosphere (30-120 km) most easily
studied using Remote sensing techniques lidar,
radar, airglow sensors
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Gravity waves excited in troposphere have
profound Effect on middle atmosphere circulation
temperature Tides generated by solar
absorption by water vapor ozone Have large
amplitudes in middle atmosphere Trace gases
transported from troposphere meteor
deposition Impact middle atmosphere chemistry
long term temperatures
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OH airglow results from reaction of atomic oxygen
and hydrogen Carries signature of Wave
perturbations

H O3 ? OH O2
O and O2 emissions Also observed
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Na D2 Backscatter Cross Section
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150 K 200 K 250 K
150 K 200 K 250 K
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Na D2 Line Backscatter Cross Section
0 m/s 50 m/s 100 m/s
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Na Wind/Temperature LIDAR
Pulsed 589 nm 1.5 W
Pulsed Frequency-Doubled NdYAG Laser
Pulsed Dye Amplifier
CW Injection Seeder Laser
1064 nm 5 mW
532 nm 15 W
Acoustic-Optic Frequency Shifter ? 630 MHz
Optical Isolator
Wavemeter
Na Vapor Cell
Photo Detector
CW Ring Dye Laser
CW Frequency-Doubled NdYVO4 Laser
532 nm 4 W
589 nm 0.5 W
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Lidar- Light Detection Ranging
Accuracy depends on photon count N
P laser power A telescope area N105 for
?1 K ?1 m/s
AEOS 10.6 m2
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1998 Leonids Shower _at_ Starfire Optical Range
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1998 Leonids Shower _at_ Starfire Optical Range
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Dz 24 m Dt 10 s
Dz 24 m Dt 10 s
Na density profile of meteor trail shows evidence
of wall structure Temperature of walls distinctly
warmer where airglow brightest Evidence of
chemical heating associated with excited OH, O2
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Red N2lt0Unstable
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TOMEX
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Rocket Launch - White Sands MR
Lidar Winds
TOMEX NASA
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MSIS-2000 Model
South Pole Lidar/Balloon Data
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Maui/MALT Investigators
Airglow Imagery Spectroscopy Mike Taylor,
Utah State U Gary Swenson, U Illinois Mike
Kelley, Cornell U Jim Hecht, Aerospace
Corp Meteor Radar Steve Franke, U
Illinois Wayne Hocking, U Western Ontario Na
Wind/Temperature Lidar Chet Gardner, George
Papen, Xinzhao Chu, U Illinois Rayleigh
Temperature Lidar Tim Kane, Penn State U John
Meriwether, Clemson U 2 Year program funded
jointly by NSF AFOSR
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Barking Sands Rocket Range
AMOS
Mauna Loa
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Maui/MALT Na Lidar First Light 09 Jan 02
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Scientific Research Goals
Develop instrument capabilities to measure
atmospheric Temperature and winds from surface to
edge of space (110 km) Characterize generation,
propagation, and dissipation of gravity
waves From troposphere through mesosphere
Research Goals Related to Air Force Needs
Develop models for predicting winds
temperature at all levels (flight
ops) Determine relationship between breaking
gravity waves, tides, And clear air turbulence
(imaging, flight ops, directed energy
weapons) Determine influence of waves and tides
on structure and brightness Of infrared airglow
layers (surveillance, imaging, missile
defense) Characterize and model diurnal and
seasonal variations of Na layer (laser guided
adaptive imaging, surveillance, directed energy
weapons)